33 replies to this topic

[KDW]

According to my research around 25 Lotus 18 were supplied to Jay Chamberlain.
These seem to have been exported to the USA at the end of 18 production.

Does anyone know who bought them and who drove, where ??

Can any one supply photos of any of these cars in period ?

KDW

[tam999]

KDW

You can find photos of California F-Jrs in 1961 on my website:

http://www.tamsoldra...sHome.html#More F-Jrs Home

Tam McPartland

[tam999]

And Ed Leslie's Lotus 18:

http://www.tamsoldra...e.html#EdLeslie

Tam McPartland

[WINO]

Billy Krause used to race a Lotus18 in Southern California in the early sixties.


WINO

[Frank S]

Lotus 18 F-Jr. No 19 1098cc
Chassis No. 987167-770
Marty Benck



Text from the program(me), Monterey Historics, 2003.

--
Frank S

[Stefan Ornerdal]

This may be of some help:
http://www.formula2....DriversW_Ex.htm
My results pages of Non-European FJ-races is far from complete, anyone out there who has more information to share?

Stefan

[WINO]

Stefan,

I notice Ed Crawford listed in the Cunningham Stanguellini. It was the FJ race before the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960. On a side note, Crawford also ran an Elva/DKW in the Monaco GP supporting FJ race in May 1960, then the same car at Crystal Palace in June. Do you have any idea who owned it, since Cunningham never had an Elva/BMW.

As for US-bound Lotus 18s, Jim Hall ended up with a number of them and I wonder if they came through Chamberlin or straight from the factory. If the former, it helps a lot with the numbers game.

WINO

[KDW]

Around 25 lotus 18's were sent to Jay Camberlain while he was "Sole" USA Lotus Agent.

I also know that ACBC did deal with others in USA at same time.

KDW

[WINO]

I just checked the entrylist for the September 10/11 1960 Road America 500, which had a supporting Formula Junior race: 80 miles [20 laps].

Two Lotus entries, presumambly 18s:

#8 Harry Carter [owner: Fred Bull of Litchfield, Conn.]
#61 Walt Hansgen [owner: Briggs Cunningham of Green Farms, Conn]

Considering the race date, they must have been first owners.

The supporting FJ race to the Oct 20/21 1962 Pacific Grand Prix at Laguna Sec has the following [no separate owners listed]:

#98 Ed Leslie, Lotus 18 [red]
#130 Harry Martin, Lotus [white, no model listed]
# 23 Al Norman, Lotus 18 [maroon]
#93 Odette Rigler, Lotus [purple, no model listed]
#164 George Sabin, Lotus [maroon/grey, no model listed]
#77 Sid Colberg, Lotus [white, no model listed]

Several 20s were entered as well and some of the above may have been 20 models.

Frank Harrison of Chattanooga owned a Formula One Lotus 18, which Lloyd Ruby raced in the U.S. GP at the Glen in 1961. I believe Harison bought it fom Jim Hall. The car was stretched later and Ruby ran the USAC races at Trenton and Milwaukee in it.

WINO

[WINO]

More 1960 Lotus Formula Junior entries, so likely to be first owner/drivers. No mention of the exact model in the programs:

Oct 1960, support race to the Riverside Times GP

#10 Jack McCann
#51 Jay Chamberlain

Oct 1960, support race to the Laguna Seca Pacific GP

Same two, plus...

#61 Rodger Ward [owned by Cunningham]
#98 Ed Leslie
#100 Ray Seher
#126 Pat Pigott [owned by Evergreen Motor Co.]

Nov 1960, part of the Pomona Cal Club weekend

#201 Rob Nethercutt
plus a car that is listed as a Timanus/Lotus, for John Timanus.


WINO

[KDW]

Excellent.
Do we know of any Yellow Lotus 18 FJ racing in USA in 1961 ??

Kevin Whittle

[Frank S]

According to the Monterey 2004 results there were several 18s on scene.

I have just this one of a yellow Lotus:



Don't know which it is.


Is that a red one, second in this photo?

http://www.fototime....nail.jpg]image

Jim Lawrence may be an original owner/driver (or be acquainted with some);
I remember he was a contemporary competitor in small sports racers.

--
Frank S

[xkssFrankOpalka]

I raced a Lotus 18 Jr but just in Vintage, Ford engine with Renault GBox. We had several racing in the Midwest, I father and son team have 2 consective # cars.

[KDW]

Thanks for info

were any painted yellow in 1961 ?
Do you know any chassis numbers ?

Kevin Whittle

[WINO]

Chassis numbers of these cars are going to be a major hurdle. I don't remember nor could find any reference to a yellow Lotus 18 in the U.S. in 1960/61. Jerry Grant drove a yellow Lotus 19 later on but that is the only Lotus model in that color that comes to mind.

WINO

[David McKinney]

The following drivers raced Lotus cars - which had to be 18s - in North America in 1960, though I’ve no idea which of them were Chamberlain imports. Except for the car he raced himself.
Others were
William Stevenson (18J803, NY, May)
Bob Hurt
M R J Wyllie
Timmy Mayer
Walt Hansgen June
Harry Carter July
Bob Rubin Sept
Pat Pigott Oct
Ed Leslie Oct
Jim Hall (18J 847) Nov
Bill Krause Nov
Hap Sharp Bahamas
Dick Macon Bahamas
Jose Luis Mulas (18J791) Mexico
Pedro Rodriguez Mexico (possibly not until 1961)

In addition the following raced 18s in 1961:
Floyd Aaskov
Frank Mabry
Charlie Hayes
Jack Lyles
Pete Lovely Oct

And in 1962:
Ray Herrera
Dick Petty
Ed Leslie (his 1960 car?)
Val Haefs
Ted Roberts (driverTom Milana)
Cliff Phillips
Lew Florence June
Ed Mottern June
Robert Hunnicutt Oct
William Blatt Oct
One of these, or another, was 746

1963;
Warren Shamlian
James LeMahien

And finally 1964:
Bob Fuller
Roger Ambrose

This is not presented as a complete list, but might help

[WINO]

Good list, David.

Going through my SCCA magazines to link Lotus 18 drivers to certain races [Chamberlain seems to have been the first 18 entrant, finishing 3rd in the Sebring FJ race in March 1960]:

April 16, 1960, Marlboro
#2 Jesse Wyllie [DNF]

May 15, 1960, Cumberland
#34 Tim Mayer [3rd] ["newly acquired Lotus FJ, once the property of Jay Chamberlain"]
#2 Peggy Wyllie [2nd] Ladies Race

May 29/30, 1960, Bridgehampton
#34 Tim Mayer [2nd]

June 18, 1960, Road America
#34 Tim Mayer [5th]

July 2, 1960, Lime Rock
#80 Harry Carter [2nd] ["new to the rear-engined Lotus"]

July 17, 1960, CDR
#34 Tim Mayer [4th]

July 1960 Pomona
#?? Jay Chamberlain [2nd]

July 24, 1960, Meadowdale
#43 Tim Mayer [2nd]

August 6, 1960, Montgomery
#61 Walt Hansgen [1st]
#80 Harry Carter [2nd]
#20 Tim Mayer [DNF]

August 21, 1960, Louisville
#34 Tim Mayer [DNF]

September 5, 1960, Thompson
#61 Walt Hansgen [1st]
#80 Harry Carter [2nd]

September 10, 1960, Road America
#8 Harry Carter [2nd]
#61 Briggs Cunningham [DNF]

November 3, 1960, Daytona
#80 Harry Carter [1st]
#551 Bob Rubin [DNF]

September 23, 1960, Watkins Glen
#55 Bob Rubin [6th]
#80 Harry Carter [DNF]

That pretty much sums up the 1960 SCCA season and there were only a handful of 18s. None in Texas or the South east until then. Even when counting the cars on the West Coast and 1961 sales, it seems as though the number of 25 is exagerated when it comes to the U.S. market.

WINO

[KDW]

Thanks guys

I was told by Nigel Halliday, from Lotus records, some 25 went out to Jay Chamberlain.

Jay was offical Lotus USA Agent/Importer

Kevin Whittle

[Magee]

At Westwood track near Vancouver, BC according to news reports:

May 1961 - Pat Pigott, Bellingham, WA, Lotus 18

July - Chuck Blaylock, Vancouver, Lotus 18

August - George Sabin, Portland, OR, Lotus 18

Sept - Pete Lovely, Seattle, WA, Lotus 18

May 1962 - Lew Florence, Seattle, WA, Lotus 18
George Sabin
Pierre Phillips, Portland, OR
Chuck Blaylock

July George Donaldson, Portland, OR, Lotus 18

[WINO]

Magee,

I presume that by 1961/62 a number of the 18s were on their second owner, so it is difficult to just add them to the 25 claimed to have been sold in the U.S. [or was that North America, including Mexco, the Bahamas and Canada?]

As for Billy Krause driving one, it must have been somebody's else, since Krause never owned a competition car after his D-type. But who is that William Stevenson listed as an early owner by David. Never heard of the guy. Unlikely to have been a racer, but who raced for him?


WINO

[Magee]

Wino,
Yes, some may have been with their second owner. And the Blaylock 18 may have been shipped directly to Canada. It's a shame that the serial numbers were not always provided at time of race entries.

[WDH74]

I believe Jay Chamberlain actually advertised the 18 alongside the Lotus road cars. I recall seeing one of those pen-and-ink ads that was headlined "The Lotus Racing Kit" or something similar, which pictured an Elite, an 18, and an Elan (or was it a Lotus Cortina?). All for the knock down price of $15,000. In any event it was two racing cars and a road car. I saw a bunch of old Lotus adverts from that series for sale at the fleamarket once....I'll have to see if I can track them down again!

-William

[gfastr]

Magee,

I presume that by 1961/62 a number of the 18s were on their second owner, so it is difficult to just add them to the 25 claimed to have been sold in the U.S. [or was that North America, including Mexco, the Bahamas and Canada?]

As for Billy Krause driving one, it must have been somebody's else, since Krause never owned a competition car after his D-type. But who is that William Stevenson listed as an early owner by David. Never heard of the guy. Unlikely to have been a racer, but who raced for him?


WINO

William Stevenson was most likely W.Fred Stevenson, who did in fact race the 18 at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut in the early 1960s. It was the beginning of a long association with Lotus as Fred would become part of the East Coast importer/distribuor Lotus/East (and Lotus Racing East) based in Millerton NY. Among the later Loti Fred would would race were a 59 in SCCA Formula B, and Formula Ford in a 61 (and maybe a 69 too).

[JB Miltonian]

In reference to post #22 above, I remembered an ad like this, and found it in Road & Track, August 1963, page 7. It reads "Lotus Race Sets $19,885 Each". The cars are the 7 America ($2885), the 22 Formula Jr ($5965), the 23 ($6255), and the Elite ($4780). The ad was placed Bob Challman of Ecurie Shirlee Corporation, and does indeed feature a pen and ink illustration of the 7, 22, and 23 on a transporter, with the Elite alongside.

Edit: The August 1964 issue of the same magazine has an ad "Lotus Race Sets Revisted", featuring the 30 (!), the 23B, the 7 America, and the Elan roadster. It doesn't give a price for the "set" this time, but the new Elan is offered for $3922.

Edited by JB Miltonian, 10 September 2011 - 04:14.

[Gary Jarlson]

The Rosebud Racing Team out of Victoria, TX, ran a pair of 18s for Pete Lovely and Bill Loudon in late '61. They did Riverside, Las Vegas and, I'd maybe venture a guess, Laguna Seca.

[Rupertlt1]

Westwood, B.C., Castrol Trophy Races, 6 August 1961:

 

#25 Lotus 18, mid-colour

#29 Lotus 20, light colour

#197 Lotus 18, mid-colour

#220 Lotus 18, mid-colour

 

Can anybody identify these cars? Chuck Blaylock? Pat Pigott? Pete Lovely? George Sabin?

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 12 November 2023 - 10:54.

[Michael Ferner]

Gus Andrey ran an unspecified Lotus #25 in 1961/'62, but unfortunately I have him at Bridgehampton the day before...

[Rupertlt1]

Gus Andrey ran an unspecified Lotus #25 in 1961/'62, but unfortunately I have him at Bridgehampton the day before...

 

Michael, I am fairly certain I have the right four drivers — I just need to allocate them to the right cars.

Possibly Pat Pigott in the Lotus 20 (by August 1961)?

Sunday 31 July 1960, Seafair, Washington: 1st Pat Pigott, Lotus Fjr; 2nd Jack Flaherty, B.M.C.

Pigott at Riverside in Lotus 20, 3rd, 14 October 1961.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 14 November 2023 - 11:04.

[Rupertlt1]

Westwood, B.C., Castrol Trophy Races, 6 August 1961:

 

#25 Lotus 18, mid-colour

#29 Lotus 20, light colour

#197 Lotus 18, mid-colour

#220 Lotus 18, mid-colour

 

Can anybody identify these cars? Chuck Blaylock? Pat Pigott? Pete Lovely? George Sabin?

 

RGDS RLT 

 

Update: Definitely Pigott in the #29 Lotus 20. I think Pete Lovely in #25.

#220 Chuck Blaylock, therefore #197 George Sabin, Portland, Oregon?

Race run in three heats.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 November 2023 - 08:42.

[Rupertlt1]

#47 Lotus 18 Formula Junior.

Chassis number J/719. Colour green.

Pat Pigott, Bellingham, Washington.

White helmet, distinctive cross brace on rollbar.

Ran #47 at Westwood, B.C., Sunday 9 April, 1961.

See Canada Track & Traffic, June 1961, Page 39.

 

So what happened to this car when Pigott traded up to a Lotus 20, later Lotus 22?

 

See also Post #19.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 November 2023 - 04:40.

[Rupertlt1]

Sacramento, 14 May 1961

Registering his second Cali-

fornia win in two months, Pat

Pigott, of Belling (sic), Wash.,

made a shambles of the For-

mula Jr. race. Winning by 1

minute, 11 seconds over the

second place car driven by

Jack Dalton, of Berkeley, in

a BMC Jr.

Pigott averaged 70.2 m.p.h.

in his Lotus Mark XX, for the

best time of the day. Best

trap time of the race was

clocked by Bruce Eglinton,

of South Pasadena, whose

Lotus was timed through the

traps at 110.3 m.p.h.

Odette "Frenchy" Bigler

the San Rafael girl who drives

as well as a man, showed 12

men drivers the way, as she

managed a solid third, 4 sec-

onds ahead of Ray Altman of

Oakland.

Formula Junior—Overall—1. Pat Pigott,

#34 Lotus XX; 2. Jack Dalton, BMC Junior,

3. #93 Odette Bigler, Lotus.

Average Speed: 70.2 miles per hour, 35 laps

Pigott also 3rd in the Modified race.

 

Eglinton, South Pasadena, Lotus 18?

Bigler in green #93 Lotus 18? (Not Rigler as shown in Post #9)

Here at Laguna Seca:

https://library.revs...una-seca/170157

 

Here at Cotati:
https://library.revs...g/cotati/399256

 

https://library.revs...g/cotati/394476

 

Also entered Stead AFB, Reno, Nevada, 23-24 September 1961.

Over-all and Junior One — 1. Jack

McAfee, Burbank, Lotus 20, 80.0 mph;

2. Strother Jones, San Anselmo, Lotus 20;

3. Tom Milano, North Hollywood, Lotus 18. (Milana)

 

Reno in 1962:

https://library.revs...org/reno/332150

 

See also: http://www.tamsoldra...laJuniors2.html

 

Ray Altman from Oakland, California.

 

LOTUS 18 F-Jr. #69

85 HP Martin Cosworth Engine.

4 Spd. Gordini or 5 spd. Colotti

gearbox. Spares. Fastest Mk 18

in Calif. Ready to race. Eth-

ridge & Eglinton, 2048 LaFrance

Ave., So. Pasadena, Calif. SY-

9-8214.

MotoRacing and Economy Car News, Vol. 7 Issue 12, Apr 13-20, 1962, Page 7

(possibly Eldridge)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2023 - 10:18.

[Rupertlt1]

LOTUS FORMULA JR.

18 with latest 20 specs,

EX-Jack McAfee Pacific Point Champ. car.

Xlnt Cond, Chrome crank, Sell or

Trade. Trailer avali, Tom Milana,

10707 Landale, No, Hollywd. Calif,

HO 6-3553 TR 7-2222 (L.A.)

MotoRacing and Economy Car News, Vol. 7 Issue 12, Apr 13-20, 1962, Page 7

 

Red #223 here: http://www.tamsoldra...laJuniors7.html

 

Jack McAfee, Burbank, #88 at Stockton, 1961: https://library.revs...stockton/405826

(16 April 1961? Steve Froines, Oakland, Lotus?)

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2023 - 08:12.

[Rupertlt1]

Red #98 Ed Leslie, Monterey, at Cotati, 10 September 1960:

 

https://library.revs...l-cotati/442861

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2023 - 08:05.

[Rupertlt1]

Green #100 Lotus 18, driver Ray Seher, at Laguna Seca, 22 October 1960:

 

https://library.revs...una-seca/453629

 

Seher from Reno, Nevada. Later with Lotus 20.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 November 2023 - 07:54.